Navigation device and method for fuel pricing display

ABSTRACT

A method and device are disclosed for navigation. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining a designated fuel type; and displaying selectable fuel pricing information on a display of a navigation device, based upon the designated fuel type and in consideration of a location of the navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a processor to determine a designated fuel type; and an integrated input and display device to display selectable fuel pricing information based upon the designated fuel type and in consideration of a location of the navigation device.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

The following applications are being filed concurrently with the presentapplication. The entire contents of each of the following applicationsis hereby incorporated herein by reference: A. NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR EARLY INSTRUCTION OUTPUT (Attorney docket number 06P207US01)filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FORESTABLISHING AND USING PROFILES (Attorney docket number 06P207US02)filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENHANCEDMAP DISPLAY (Attorney docket number 06P207US03) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD RELATING TO AN AUDIBLERECOGNITION MODE (Attorney docket number 06P207US04) filed on even dateherewith; NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POINTS OF INTEREST(Attorney docket number 06P207US05) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INFORMATIONAL SCREEN DISPLAY (Attorneydocket number 06P207US06) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATIONDEVICE AND METHOD FOR DEALING WITH LIMITED ACCESS ROADS (Attorney docketnumber 06P057US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR TRAVEL WARNINGS (Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed oneven date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING BREAKWARNING (Attorney docket number 06P057US07) filed on even date herewith;A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ISSUING WARNINGS (Attorney docketnumber 06P207US07) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR DISPLAY OF POSITION IN TEXT READIBLE FORM (Attorney docketnumber 06P207US08) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE ACCESS (Attorney docket number 06P057US08)filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FORPROVIDING REGIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION IN A NAVIGATION DEVICE (Attorneydocket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATIONDEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SPECIAL CHARACTERS IN A NAVIGATION DEVICE(Attorney docket number 06P207US09) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD USING A PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (Attorneydocket number 06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATIONDEVICE AND METHOD USING A LOCATION MESSAGE (Attorney docket number06P207US10) filed on even date herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHODFOR CONSERVING POWER (Attorney docket number 06P207US11) filed on evendate herewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFICMESSAGE CHANNEL (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND j METHOD FOR USING A TRAFFIC MESSAGECHANNEL RESOURCE (Attorney docket number 06P207US13) filed on even dateherewith; A NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR QUICK OPTION ACCESS(Attorney docket number 06P207US15) filed on even date herewith; ANAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A RICH CONTENT DOCUMENT(Attorney docket number 06P207US27) filed on even date herewith.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)on each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/879 523 filedJan. 10, 2007, 60/879,549 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,553 filed Jan. 10,2007, 60/879,577 filed Jan. 10, 2007, 60/879,599 filed Jan. 10, 2007,and 60/879,529 filed Jan. 10, 2007, the entire contents of each of whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application generally relates to navigation methods anddevices.

BACKGROUND

Navigation devices were traditionally utilized mainly in the areas ofvehicle use, such as on cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats, etc.Alternatively, if such navigation devices were portable, they werefurther transferable between vehicles and/or useable outside thevehicle, for foot travel for example.

These devices are typically tailored to produce a route of travel basedupon an initial position of the navigation device and a selected/inputtravel destination (end position), noting that the initial positioncould be entered into the device, but is traditionally calculated viaGPS Positioning from a GPS receiver within the navigation device.

In known navigation systems, menus are used to display various traveldestinations, desired locations, and desired points of interest. A user,for example, can select a category of restaurants as a point ofinterest, and can find a plurality of selections available. The user canthen select a particular restaurant and then determine a route to thatrestaurant using the navigation system.

SUMMARY

The inventors discovered that although a plurality of selectable pointsof interest were displayed in known navigation systems, listing aplurality of entries for example in various selectable categories, onlylimited information was conveyed to the user, especially initially. Theinventors developed a system regarding points of interest, andespecially fuel stations, to convey information to the user in anefficient manner so that the user can make an informed choice.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includesdetermining a designated fuel type; and displaying selectable fuelpricing information on a display of a navigation device, based upon thedesignated fuel type and in consideration of a location of thenavigation device.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigationdevice includes a processor to determine a designated fuel type; and anintegrated input and display device to display selectable fuel pricinginformation based upon the designated fuel type and in consideration ofa location of the navigation device.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includesdisplaying an icon for updating fuel pricing information; updating, uponreceipt of an indication of selection of the icon for updating pricinginformation, fuel pricing information; and displaying a plurality ofselectable icons, useable to access the updated selectable fuel pricinginformation in consideration of a location of the navigation device, ona display of a navigation device.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, anavigation device includes an integrated input and display device todisplay an icon for updating fuel pricing information; and a processorto update, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon forupdating pricing information, fuel pricing information, the integratedinput and display device being useable to display a plurality ofselectable icons, useable to access the updated selectable fuel pricinginformation in consideration of a location of the navigation device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application will be described in more detail below by usingexample embodiments, which will be explained with the aid of thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of a Global Positioning System (GPS);

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components ofa navigation device of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server, navigationdevice and connection therebetween of an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an implementation of anembodiment of the navigation device 200.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of a modified embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen display of selectable icons of an embodimentof the present application;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a display screen for fuel type of anembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a display screen for downloading fuelpricing information of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a display screen for fuel pricing of anembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen display of selectable icons of anembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of another embodiment of the presentapplication; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of another embodiment of the presentapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

In describing example embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosureof this patent specification is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner.

Referencing the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, exampleembodiments of the present patent application are hereafter described.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of Global Positioning System (GPS),usable by navigation devices, including the navigation device ofembodiments of the present application. Such systems are known and areused for a variety of purposes. In general, GPS is a satellite-radiobased navigation system capable of determining continuous position,velocity, time, and in some instances direction information for anunlimited number of users.

Formerly known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality ofsatellites which work with the earth in extremely precise orbits. Basedon these precise orbits, GPS satellites can relay their location to anynumber of receiving units.

The GPS system is implemented when a device, specially equipped toreceive GPS data, begins scanning radio frequencies for GPS satellitesignals. Upon receiving a radio signal from a GPS satellite, the devicedetermines the precise location of that satellite via one of a pluralityof different conventional methods. The device will continue scanning, inmost instances, for signals until it has acquired at least threedifferent satellite signals (noting that position is not normally, butcan be determined, with only two signals using other triangulationtechniques). Implementing geometric triangulation, the receiver utilizesthe three known positions to determine its own two-dimensional positionrelative to the satellites. This can be done in a known manner.Additionally, acquiring a fourth satellite signal will allow thereceiving device to calculate its three dimensional position by the samegeometrical calculation in a known manner. The position and velocitydata can be updated in real time on a continuous basis by an unlimitednumber of users.

As shown in FIG. 1, the GPS system is denoted generally by referencenumeral 100. A plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the earth124. The orbit of each satellite 120 is not necessarily synchronous withthe orbits of other satellites 120 and, in fact, is likely asynchronous.A GPS receiver 140, usable in embodiments of navigation devices of thepresent application, is shown receiving spread spectrum GPS satellitesignals 160 from the various satellites 120.

The spread spectrum signals 160, continuously transmitted from eachsatellite 120, utilize a highly accurate frequency standard accomplishedwith an extremely accurate atomic clock. Each satellite 120, as part ofits data signal transmission 160, transmits a data stream indicative ofthat particular satellite 120. It is appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art that the GPS receiver device 140 generally acquires spreadspectrum GPS satellite signals 160 from at least three satellites 120for the GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its two-dimensionalposition by triangulation. Acquisition of an additional signal,resulting in signals 160 from a total of four satellites 120, permitsthe GPS receiver device 140 to calculate its three-dimensional positionin a known manner.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of electronic components ofa navigation device 200 of an embodiment of the present application, inblock component format. It should be noted that the block diagram of thenavigation device 200 is not inclusive of all components of thenavigation device, but is only representative of many examplecomponents.

The navigation device 200 is located within a housing (not shown). Thehousing includes a processor 210 connected to an input device 220 and adisplay screen 240. The input device 220 can include a keyboard device,voice input device, touch panel and/or any other known input deviceutilized to input information; and the display screen 240 can includeany type of display screen such as an LCD display, for example. In atleast one embodiment of the present application, the input device 220and display screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input anddisplay device, including a touchpad or touchscreen input wherein a userneed only touch a portion of the display screen 240 to select one of aplurality of display choices or to activate one of a plurality ofvirtual buttons.

In addition, other types of output devices 250 can also include,including but not limited to, an audible output device. As output device250 can produce audible information to a user of the navigation device200, it is equally understood that input device 240 can also include amicrophone and software for receiving input voice commands as well.

In the navigation device 200, processor 210 is operatively connected toand set to receive input information from input device 240 via aconnection 225, and operatively connected to at least one of displayscreen 240 and output device 250, via output connections 245, to outputinformation thereto. Further, the processor 210 is operatively connectedto memory 230 via connection 235 and is further adapted to receive/sendinformation from/to input/output (I/O) ports 270 via connection 275,wherein the I/O port 270 is connectible to an I/O device 280 external tothe navigation device 200. The external I/O device 270 may include, butis not limited to an external listening device such as an earpiece forexample. The connection to I/O device 280 can further be a wired orwireless connection to any other external device such as a car stereounit for hands-free operation and/or for voice activated operation forexample, for connection to an ear piece or head phones, and/or forconnection to a mobile phone for example, wherein the mobile phoneconnection may be used to establish a data connection between thenavigation device 200 and the internet or any other network for example,and/or to establish a connection to a server via the internet or someother network for example.

The navigation device 200, in at least one embodiment, may establish a“mobile” network connection with the server 302 via a mobile device 400(such as a mobile phone, PDA, and/or any device with mobile phonetechnology) establishing a digital connection (such as a digitalconnection via known Bluetooth technology for example). Thereafter,through its network service provider, the mobile device 400 canestablish a network connection (through the internet for example) with aserver 302. As such, a “mobile” network connection is establishedbetween the navigation device 200 (which can be, and often times ismobile as it travels alone and/or in a vehicle) and the server 302 toprovide a “real-time” or at least very “up to date” gateway forinformation.

The establishing of the network connection between the mobile device 400(via a service provider) and another device such as the server 302,using the internet 410 for example, can be done in a known manner. Thiscan include use of TCP/IP layered protocol for example. The mobiledevice 400 can utilize any number of communication standards such asCDMA, GSM, WAN, etc.

As such, an internet connection may be utilized which is achieved viadata connection, via a mobile phone or mobile phone technology withinthe navigation device 200 for example. For this connection, an internetconnection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 isestablished. This can be done, for example, through a mobile phone orother mobile device and a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)-connection(GPRS connection is a high-speed data connection for mobile devicesprovided by telecom operators; GPRS is a method to connect to theinternet.

The navigation device 200 can further complete a data connection withthe mobile device 400, and eventually with the internet 410 and server302, via existing Bluetooth technology for example, in a known manner,wherein the data protocol can utilize any number of standards, such asthe GSRM, the Data Protocol Standard for the GSM standard, for example.

The navigation device 200 may include its own mobile phone technologywithin the navigation device 200 itself (including an antenna forexample, wherein the internal antenna of the navigation device 200 canfurther alternatively be used). The mobile phone technology within thenavigation device 200 can include internal components as specifiedabove, and/or can include an insertable card, complete with necessarymobile phone technology and/or an antenna for example. As such, mobilephone technology within the navigation device 200 can similarlyestablish a network connection between the navigation device 200 and theserver 302, via the internet 410 for example, in a manner similar tothat of any mobile device 400.

For GRPS phone settings, the Bluetooth enabled device may be used tocorrectly work with the ever changing spectrum of mobile phone models,manufacturers, etc., model/manufacturer specific settings may be storedon the navigation device 200 for example. The data stored for thisinformation can be updated in a manner discussed in any of theembodiments, previous and subsequent.

FIG. 2 further illustrates an operative connection between the processor210 and an antenna/receiver 250 via connection 255, wherein theantenna/receiver 250 can be a GPS antenna/receiver for example. It willbe understood that the antenna and receiver designated by referencenumeral 250 are combined schematically for illustration, but that theantenna and receiver may be separately located components, and that theantenna may be a GPS patch antenna or helical antenna for example.

Further, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatthe electronic components shown in FIG. 2 are powered by power sources(not shown) in a conventional manner. As will be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, different configurations of the componentsshown in FIG. 2 are considered within the scope of the presentapplication. For example, in one embodiment, the components shown inFIG. 2 may be in communication with one another via wired and/orwireless connections and the like. Thus, the scope of the navigationdevice 200 of the present application includes a portable or handheldnavigation device 200.

In addition, the portable or handheld navigation device 200 of FIG. 2can be connected or “docked” in a known manner to a motorized vehiclesuch as a car or boat for example. Such a navigation device 200 is thenremovable from the docked location for portable or handheld navigationuse.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a server 302 and anavigation device 200 of the present application, via a genericcommunications channel 318, of an embodiment of the present application.The server 302 and a navigation device 200 of the present applicationcan communicate when a connection via communications channel 318 isestablished between the server 302 and the navigation device 200 (notingthat such a connection can be a data connection via mobile device, adirect connection via personal computer via the internet, etc.).

The server 302 includes, in addition to other components which may notbe illustrated, a processor 304 operatively connected to a memory 306and further operatively connected, via a wired or wireless connection314, to a mass data storage device 312. The processor 304 is furtheroperatively connected to transmitter 308 and receiver 310, to transmitand send information to and from navigation device 200 viacommunications channel 318. The signals sent and received may includedata, communication, and/or other propagated signals. The transmitter308 and receiver 310 may be selected or designed according to thecommunications requirement and communication technology used in thecommunication design for the navigation system 200. Further, it shouldbe noted that the functions of transmitter 308 and receiver 310 may becombined into a signal transceiver.

Server 302 is further connected to (or includes) a mass storage device312, noting that the mass storage device 312 may be coupled to theserver 302 via communication link 314. The mass storage device 312contains a store of navigation data and map information, and can againbe a separate device from the server 302 or can be incorporated into theserver 302.

The navigation device 200 is adapted to communicate with the server 302through communications channel 318, and includes processor, memory, etc.as previously described with regard to FIG. 2, as well as transmitter320 and receiver 322 to send and receive signals and/or data through thecommunications channel 318, noting that these devices can further beused to communicate with devices other than server 302. Further, thetransmitter 320 and receiver 322 are selected or designed according tocommunication requirements and communication technology used in thecommunication design for the navigation device 200 and the functions ofthe transmitter 320 and receiver 322 may be combined into a singletransceiver.

Software stored in server memory 306 provides instructions for theprocessor 304 and allows the server 302 to provide services to thenavigation device 200. One service provided by the server 302 involvesprocessing requests from the navigation device 200 and transmittingnavigation data from the mass data storage 312 to the navigation device200. According to at least one embodiment of the present application,another service provided by the server 302 includes processing thenavigation data using various algorithms for a desired application andsending the results of these calculations to the navigation device 200.

The communication channel 318 generically represents the propagatingmedium or path that connects the navigation device 200 and the server302. According to at least one embodiment of the present application,both the server 302 and navigation device 200 include a transmitter fortransmitting data through the communication channel and a receiver forreceiving data that has been transmitted through the communicationchannel.

The communication channel 318 is not limited to a particularcommunication technology. Additionally, the communication channel 318 isnot limited to a single communication technology; that is, the channel318 may include several communication links that use a variety oftechnology. For example, according to at least one embodiment, thecommunication channel 318 can be adapted to provide a path forelectrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic communications, etc. Assuch, the communication channel 318 includes, but is not limited to, oneor a combination of the following: electric circuits, electricalconductors such as wires and coaxial cables, fiber optic cables,converters, radio-frequency (rf) waves, the atmosphere, empty space,etc. Furthermore, according to at least one various embodiment, thecommunication channel 318 can include intermediate devices such asrouters, repeaters, buffers, transmitters, and receivers, for example.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, for example, thecommunication channel 318 includes telephone and computer networks.Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the communication channel 318may be capable of accommodating wireless communication such as radiofrequency, microwave frequency, infrared communication, etc.Additionally, according to at least one embodiment, the communicationchannel 318 can accommodate satellite communication.

The communication signals transmitted through the communication channel318 include, but are not limited to, signals as may be required ordesired for given communication technology. For example, the signals maybe adapted to be used in cellular communication technology such as TimeDivision Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access(FDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), etc. Both digital and analogue signals can betransmitted through the communication channel 318. According to at leastone embodiment, these signals may be modulated, encrypted and/orcompressed signals as may be desirable for the communication technology.

The mass data storage 312 includes sufficient memory for the desirednavigation applications. Examples of the mass data storage 312 mayinclude magnetic data storage media such as hard drives for example,optical storage media such as CD-Roms for example, charged data storagemedia such as flash memory for example, molecular memory, etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, theserver 302 includes a remote server accessible by the navigation device200 via a wireless channel. According to at least one other embodimentof the application, the server 302 may include a network server locatedon a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual privatenetwork (VPN), etc.

According to at least one embodiment of the present application, theserver 302 may include a personal computer such as a desktop or laptopcomputer, and the communication channel 318 may be a cable connectedbetween the personal computer and the navigation device 200.Alternatively, a personal computer may be connected between thenavigation device 200 and the server 302 to establish an internetconnection between the server 302 and the navigation device 200.Alternatively, a mobile telephone or other handheld device may establisha wireless connection to the internet, for connecting the navigationdevice 200 to the server 302 via the internet.

The navigation device 200 may be provided with information from theserver 302 via information downloads which may be periodically updatedupon a user connecting navigation device 200 to the server 302 and/ormay be more dynamic upon a more constant or frequent connection beingmade between the server 302 and navigation device 200 via a wirelessmobile connection device and TCP/IP connection for example. For manydynamic calculations, the processor 304 in the server 302 may be used tohandle the bulk of the processing needs; however, processor 210 ofnavigation device 200 can also handle much processing and calculation,oftentimes independent of a connection to a server 302.

The mass storage device 312 connected to the server 302 can includevolumes more cartographic and route data than that which is able to bemaintained on the navigation device 200 itself, including maps, etc. Theserver 302 may process, for example, the majority of the devices of anavigation device 200 which travel along the route using a set ofprocessing algorithms. Further, the cartographic and route data storedin memory 312 can operate on signals (e.g. GPS signals), originallyreceived by the navigation device 200.

As indicated above, a navigation device 200 of an embodiment of thepresent application includes a processor 210, an input device 220, and adisplay screen 240. In at least one embodiment, the input device 220 anddisplay screen 240 are integrated into an integrated input and displaydevice to enable both input of information (via direct input, menuselection, etc.) and display of information through a touch panelscreen, for example. Such a screen may be a touch input LCD screen, forexample, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.Further, the navigation device 200 can also include any additional inputdevice 220 and/or any additional output device 240, such as audioinput/output devices for example.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an actual implementation of anembodiment of the navigation device 200. As shown in FIG. 4A, thenavigation device 200 may be a unit that includes an integrated inputand display device 290 (a touch panel screen for example) and the othercomponents of FIG. 2 (including but not limited to internal GPS receiver250, microprocessor 210, a power supply, memory systems 220, etc.).

The navigation device 200 may sit on an arm 292, which itself may besecured to a vehicle dashboard/window/etc. using a large suction cup294. This arm 292 is one example of a docking station to which thenavigation device 200 can be docked.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the navigation device 200 can be docked orotherwise connected to an arm 292 of the docking station by snapconnecting the navigation device 292 to the arm 292 for example (this isonly one example, as other known alternatives for connection to adocking station are within the scope of the present application). Thenavigation device 200 may then be rotatable on the arm 292, as shown bythe arrow of FIG. 4B. To release the connection between the navigationdevice 200 and the docking station, a button on the navigation device200 may be pressed, for example (this is only one example, as otherknown alternatives for disconnection to a docking station are within thescope of the present application).

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a method includesdetermining a designated fuel type; and displaying selectable fuelpricing information on a display 240 of a navigation device 200, basedupon the designated fuel type and in consideration of a location of thenavigation device 200.

In at least one embodiment of the present application, a navigationdevice 200 includes a processor 210 to determine a designated fuel type;and an integrated input and display device 290 to display selectablefuel pricing information based upon the designated fuel type and inconsideration of a location of the navigation device 200.

FIG. 5A illustrates a process flow of an example embodiment of thepresent application, for displaying selectable fuel pricing information.Initially, in Step S2, a processor 210 of the navigation device 200determines a designated fuel type, and subsequently in Step S4,selectable fuel pricing information is displayed on the display 240 ofthe navigation device 200, based upon the designated fuel type and inconsideration of a location of the navigation device 200.

As shown in FIG. 5B, an embodiment of the aforementioned method caninclude Steps S2 and S4 of FIG. 5A, and can further include additionalsteps. For example, relating to the selectable icons, it can bedetermined in Step S6, by the processor 210 for example, whether or nota selectable icon was selected. If not, the icons remain displayed, andif so, the category of a selected icon can be determined, by theprocessor 210 for example, in Step S8. Thereafter, in Step S10, alisting of fuel providing stations can be displayed on display 240 forexample, noting that the display 240 can be part of an integrated inputand display device 290.

FIG. 6 provides an illustration of an example display of a navigationdevice 200, which can be displayed on an integrated input and displaydevice 290 of the navigation device 200 itself for example. As shown inFIG. 6, selectable fuel pricing information is displayed, wherein thedisplay includes a plurality of selectable icons 500, 510, 520, 530,540, and 550. The plurality of selectable icons include at least oneselectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relativelocation (the “find by proximity” icon 500 for example), and at leastone selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based uponrelative pricing (the “find by price” icon 510 for example).

Further, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the plurality of selectableicons further including at least one selectable icon 530 displaying arelatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route; a selectable icon540 displaying a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity toa current location of the navigation device; and a selectable icon 550displaying a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within adesignated threshold distance from a current location of the navigationdevice 200. As shown with regard to selectable icon 540, the proximitymay be that within a certain threshold distance range such as withinfifty kilometers for example, noting that this distance is variable anda relatively nearest and cheapest fuel price may be any number ofdistances, wherein the processor 210 may determine, from fuel pricinginformation stored in memory 230 for example, a relatively cheapest fuelprice within a designated proximity threshold, the designated proximitythreshold being variable. The same applies to the 47 kilometer displayof icon 550, noting that this number may or may not be displayed and thedesignated distance may be a variable threshold established by theprocessor 210, to search for location and fuel pricing information frominformation stored in the memory 230 of the navigation device 200.

When the user desires to include a feature relating to display of fuelpricing information, the user may download a list of fuel points ofinterest or POIs (fuel or gas stations and their locations), and anassociated list of prices. This can be done by connecting the navigationdevice 200 to a network to download information from a server 302 ofFIG. 3 for example, wherein the network connection may be a wirelessconnection, a mobile wireless connection made through a Bluetoothconnection for example in a manner described previously, or a wiredconnection, through an Internet service provider. Preferably, a user canalso designate which type of fuel information they want to download,based upon fuel type for example. The fuel type can be those of regular,mid-grade, premium, or diesel for example. Once a fuel type isdesignated, the aforementioned fuel pricing information for the selectedfuel type can be downloaded.

FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a fuel type selection screen that canbe displayed to a user, on a display 240 or integrated input and displaydevice 290 for example, wherein the user may select a desired fuel typefor which pricing information is desired. It should be noted that thisselection can be made to receive fuel pricing information via wired orwireless connection and can further be made to access updated fuelpricing information as will be discussed with regard to an additionalembodiment of the present application.

The obtaining of the aforementioned fuel pricing information may be doneon a subscription basis, wherein a user can subscribe to receive fuelpricing information from the server 302, in at least one of a wired orwireless manner, wherein the pricing information can first includeinitial pricing information and can later include updated pricinginformation. Once the connection is made, fuel pricing information canbe downloaded to the navigation device 200 and a display screen 240 ofan integrated input and display device 290 for example, such as that ofFIG. 8 can be displayed to the user to indicate that fuel pricinginformation is being downloaded. Again, this can occur in a wired orwireless manner, can occur for only fuel of a selected type, and/or canoccur for receiving initial price information and/or updatinginformation.

The fuel pricing information can include current prices of various typesof gasoline, and/or for a selected type of gasoline, sold at gasstations throughout the country in which the navigation device 200 isbeing operated. For example, the fuel pricing information can includeprices sold at approximately 80,000 gas stations in the United States.Price data may be derived from credit card transactions, direct feeds,and other survey methods for storage at a server 302 and for subsequentdownloading to the navigation device 200. Therefore, the pricinginformation sent to a user of the navigation device 200 will vary basedon traffic flow to particular gas stations and can be out of date(especially in a fluctuating fuel pricing market). Thus, the informationis updatable as will be described later with regard to anotherembodiment of the present application.

The fuel pricing information may be provided to the server 302 throughany number of providers, such as for example, a provider of petroleumpricing, that receives fuel information through fleet credit cardtransactions from 75,000 to 80,000 stations in the United States. Thisinformation can be integrated in any number of ways, such as forexample, a traffic provider who aggregates the information and who canoutput price file information in XML formatting, including, but notlimited to, a unique station ID for each fuel providing or gas station,a product code ID for a fuel type (regular, mid-grade, premium, diesel),a transaction date, and a fuel price. This pricing information can thenbe stored at the server 302 and downloaded to be stored in memory 230 ofeach navigation device 200 when requested.

FIG. 9 provides an example of a display screen 240 on a navigationdevice 200, including an icon 800 for accessing fuel pricinginformation, such as the fuel pricing screen of FIG. 6 or 10 forexample. Such a screen can be displayed to a user, for example, as oneinitial screen for selecting options prior to navigation use of thenavigation device 200. When selected, the icon 800 can then be used toaccess the screen shown in FIG. 10 of the present application, includinga plurality of selectable icons 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, and 550 aspreviously described with regard to FIG. 5 of the present applicationfor example. Further discussion of these selectable icons will now beprovided.

Upon receiving an indication of selection of the “Find by proximity”icon 500, the processor 210 can search through the memory 230 for fuelpricing information of the locations close in distance to a currentlocation of the navigation device 200. The current location of thenavigation device 200 is typically determined by receipt of a GPS signalfor example, wherein the processor 210 can merely compare this receivedlocation with locations of various fuel stations stored in memory 203and located near the navigation device 200. Thus, in response toreceiving an indication of a selection of the “Find by proximity” icon500 to provide fuel information based upon relative location, theprocessor 210 can determine and then can instruct integrated input anddisplay device 290 of the navigation device 200 to display a listing ofthe fuel providing stations in an order determined by relative locationto the navigation device (such a display can further include relativedistance from the current location as well), calculated by the processor210 from the current GPS location of the navigation device 200 and thestored locations of the fuel providing stations. Such a display can bein an order of closest to furthest from a current location of thenavigation device 200 for example.

The “Find by price” icon 510 can be selected to provide lists of fuelproviding stations ranked by the processor 210 in an order determined byfuel price (preferably within a threshold distance from the currentlocation of the navigation device 200 for example), cheapest to mostexpensive for example. Thus, upon the processor 210 receiving indicationof selection of the “Find by price” icon 510 to provide pricinginformation based upon relative pricing, the processor 210 can determineand then instruct the integrated input and display device 290 to displaya listing of fuel providing stations in an order determined based uponfuel pricing information, such as cheapest to most expensive for example(noting that the order can also be displayed from most expensive tocheapest for example)

Somewhat similarly, the processor 210 can utilize the stored pricinginformation, stored in memory 230 for example, in other different ways,depending upon a particular icon of FIG. 10 which is selected. Regardingthe “cheapest on route” icon 530, when an indication of selection of theicon 530 is received by the processor 210, the processor 210 candetermine and then direct the integrated input and display device 290 todisplay detailed information regarding at least one fuel stationproviding the relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route of theuser (again, preferably within a threshold distance from the currentlocation of the navigation device 200 for example). It should be notedthat this can include a single gas station which is the relativelycheapest along the route of travel, and/or a selectable list of gasstations found on the users path of travel, ranked in order of cheapnessof price information. Further, as shown by element 530 of FIG. 10, thedisplay can include display of the actual price of the relativelycheapest fuel price along the travel route. Thus, the selectable icon530 can be reconfigured for display by processor 210 to display an icondisplaying both a relatively cheapest price and the phrase “cheapest onroute.

Again, upon the processor 210 receiving an indication of selection ofthe icon 530, the display can include a listing of gas stations or asingle gas station ranked according to cheapest gas stations along theroute of travel, including detailed information of price, distance togas station, etc., and then subsequent to selection of one of the listedgas stations, detailed information can be accessed by the processor 210from memory 230 and displayed on the integrated input and display device290 and thus provided to the user. Alternatively, upon selection of theicon 530, the processor 210 can access information on the a singlerelatively cheapest gas station on the route of travel from memory 230and then the accessed information for the single relatively cheapest gasstation on the travel route can be displayed on the integrated input anddisplay device 290.

Somewhat similarly, upon the processor 210 receiving an indication ofselection of the icon 540 to provide a relatively cheapest fuel pricebased upon proximity to a current location of the navigation device 200(cheapest nearby icon 540 for example), the processor 210 can determine,and the integrated input and display device 290 can display detailedinformation regarding a fuel providing station providing the relativelycheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a current location of thenavigation device. Thus, upon receipt of an indication of selection oficon 540 for example, a list of gas stations within a certain distance,such as 5 miles for example, (or just a single station within theproximity range and with the relatively cheapest price) can be displayed(in an order ranked by closeness to the location of the navigationdevice 200 for example), wherein a price of a relatively cheapest gasstation within the proximity range may be displayed with the icon 540,as shown by the price of $1.49 for example. Thus, the selectable icon540 can be reconfigured for display by processor 210 to display an icondisplaying both a relatively cheapest price of the closest fuel station(along with the distance to this station, for example) and the phrase“cheapest on nearby”.

Again, upon the processor 210 receiving an indication of selection ofthe icon 540, the display can include a listing of gas stations or asingle gas station including detailed information of price, distance tostation, etc., and then subsequent to selection of one of the listed gasstations, detailed information can be accessed by the processor 210 frommemory 230 and displayed on the integrated input and display device 290and thus provided to the user. Alternatively, upon selection of theicon, the processor 210 can access information on the a singlerelatively cheapest gas station from memory 230 and then the accessedinformation for the single relatively cheapest gas station can bedisplayed on the integrated input and display device 290.

Finally, upon receipt of an indication of selection of an icon 550 toprovide relatively cheapest fuel price based upon a location within adesignated distance from a current location of the navigation device 200(icon 550 entitled “cheapest in area”), a list of gas stations within acertain designated distance, such as within 35 miles for example, can bedisplayed. Upon selection of a gas station from the list, or directlyafter selecting the “cheapest in area” icon 550, detailed informationcan be accessed by the processor 210 from memory 230 and displayed onthe integrated input and display device 290 regarding a fuel providingstation providing a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon a locationwithin a designated distance from a current location of the navigationdevice.

As previously indicated, upon selection of any of the icons 530, 540,and 550, detailed information regarding a relatively cheapest gasstation on route, cheapest gas station within a proximity threshold,and/or cheapest gas station within a designated distance from a currentlocation of the navigation device 200 may be displayed. Again, thisdetailed information can be displayed directly after selection of any ofthe icons 530, 540, 550, or subsequent to display of a list of gasstations and then selection thereof. In any event, the detailedinformation can include a display such as that shown in FIG. 11 forexample, displaying an informational display screen to the user. Theinformational display screen can include a display of the gas stationlocation and a display of the route of travel for example, and caninclude additional information such as map information, a phone number,icons representing whether or not the location is along the route oftravel, etc.

As shown in FIG. 10, an icon 520 can be displayed for updating pricinginformation. Accordingly, upon the processor 210 receiving an indicationof selection of the icon for updating pricing information, the updatedpricing information may be received by the navigation device 200. Aspreviously indicated, the updated pricing information may be stored inthe memory 230 of the navigation device, after it is received in eithera wired or wireless manner. The updated pricing information can bereceived in a wireless manner via at least one of an antenna of thenavigation device 200 and a connection via a mobile phone link, such asa Bluetooth link for example. As such, the updated pricing informationcan also be stored in memory 230 of the navigation device 200, alongwith the location of each of the plurality of fuel stations.

Further, the receipt and gathering of updated pricing information canfurther be refined. For example, when the processor 210 receives anindication of selection of the updating icon 520, a user may be prompted(with other additional icons or suggestions, for example) to refine theupdating. For example, when the processor 210 receives an indication ofselection of the updating icon 520, a user may be prompted to select anadditional icon or statement corresponding to a request to update anarea or all data. The area may be limited, for example, to a rangeextending a defined distance from a home of a user, a current locationof a user, etc. This selection for updating only an area or range canfurther be set by the user of the navigation device 200 as a userpreference (for example, before the use of the navigation device in acurrent navigation mode) or can be selected in response to a displayprompt, for example.

Again, it should be understood that regarding the method of the presentapplication described above, this can be embodied in the form of anavigation device 200. For example, in at least one embodiment, thenavigation device 200 may include a processor 210 to determine adesignated fuel type and an integrated input and display device 290 todisplay selectable fuel pricing information based upon the designatedfuel type and in consideration of a location of the navigation device.The navigation device 200 may be portable, and may include at least oneof an antenna and a wireless link connection, to connect to a mobilephone via a Bluetooth connection for example. It should be understoodthat a memory 230 of the navigation device 200 can store the receivedinformation and a processor 210 can determine the various information tobe displayed.

In at least one other embodiment of the present application, a methodincludes displaying an icon for updating fuel pricing information;updating, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon forupdating pricing information, fuel pricing information; and displaying aplurality of selectable icons, usable to access the updated selectablefuel pricing information in consideration of a location of thenavigation device, on a display of the navigation device. In anotherembodiment, a navigation device 200 includes a integrated input anddisplay device 290 to display an icon for updating fuel pricinginformation and a processor 210 to update, upon receipt of an indicationof selection of the icon for updating pricing information, fuel pricinginformation, the integrated input and display device 290 being usable todisplay a plurality of selectable icons, usable to access the updatedselectable fuel pricing information in consideration of a location ofthe navigation device.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a method of the presentapplication. In this embodiment, an icon for updating fuel pricinginformation is displayed in step S20, such as the icon 520 of FIG. 10for example. Thereafter, the processor 210, for example, determines instep S22, whether or not an icon for updating fuel pricing informationwas selected. If not, the method returns to step S20. If so, the methodproceeds to step S24.

In step S24, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon forupdating pricing information, by processor 210 for example, fuel pricinginformation is updated (in memory 230 of the navigation device 200, forexample). Thus, by merely selecting the icon 520 relating to “updateprices,” assuming that the navigation device 200 either has an antennato receive updated pricing information and/or is connected or pairedwith a mobile telephone to establish a wireless mobile phone link,updated fuel pricing information can be received.

Thereafter, in step S26, the processor 210 can instruct an integratedinput and display device 290 of the navigation device 200 to display aplurality of selectable icons, usable to access the updated fuel pricinginformation in consideration of a location of the navigation device, ona display of the navigation device 200. For example, upon the pricinginformation being updated, displays such as that shown in FIG. 10 can bedisplayed to a user, wherein the icons are usable to access updated fuelpricing information based upon various considerations of a location ofthe navigation device 200 such as a cheapest gas station along the routeof the navigation device 200 (accessible via icon 530), a cheapest gasstation proximate to a location of the navigation device 200 (viaselectable icon 540), and cheapest gas station within an area range of alocation of the navigation device 200 (via selectable icon 550). Withsuch a method, a user can easily be supplied with the most currentupdated fuel pricing information and thereafter can make a fuel pricingdecision in a number of various ways.

Again, the updated fuel pricing information may be received in awireless manner via at least one of an antenna of the navigation device200 in connection via mobile phone link, and the updated fuel pricinginformation may be stored in a memory 230 of the navigation device 200along with updated fuel pricing information and the location for aplurality of fuel providing stations. Somewhat similar to that describedwith regard to FIG. 7 for example, a designated fuel type may bedetermined prior to receipt of the updated fuel pricing information,such that the updating will include updated fuel pricing information forthe designated fuel type.

Again, the location of the navigation device 200 may be determined byreceipt of a GPS signal for example.

Again, it should be understood that regarding the method of the presentapplication described above, that this method can be embodied in theform of a navigation device 200. For example, in at least oneembodiment, the navigation device 200 may include an integrated inputand display device 290 to display an icon for updating fuel pricinginformation; and a processor 210 to update, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon for updating pricing information,fuel pricing information, the integrated input and display device 290being useable to display a plurality of selectable icons, useable toaccess the updated selectable fuel pricing information in considerationof a location of the navigation device 200. The navigation device 200may be portable, and may include at least one of an antenna and awireless link connection, to connect to a mobile phone via a Bluetoothconnection for example. It should be understood that a memory 230 of thenavigation device 200 can store the received updated fuel pricinginformation and a processor 210 can determine the various information tobe displayed.

The methods of at least one embodiment expressed above may beimplemented as a computer data signal embodied in the carrier wave orpropagated signal that represents a sequence of instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor (such as processor 304 of server 302, and/orprocessor 210 of navigation device 200 for example) causes the processorto perform a respective method. In at least one other embodiment, atleast one method provided above may be implemented above as a set ofinstructions contained on a computer readable or computer accessiblemedium, such as one of the memory devices previously described, forexample, to perform the respective method when executed by a processoror other computer device. In varying embodiments, the medium may be amagnetic medium, electronic medium, optical medium, etc.

Even further, any of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in theform of a program. The program may be stored on a computer readablemedia and is adapted to perform any one of the aforementioned methodswhen run on a computer device (a device including a processor). Thus,the storage medium or computer readable medium is adapted to storeinformation and is adapted to interact with a data processing facilityor computer device to perform the method of any of the above mentionedembodiments.

The storage medium may be a built-in medium installed inside a computerdevice main body or a removable medium arranged so that it can beseparated from the computer device main body. Examples of the built-inmedium include, but are not limited to, rewriteable non-volatilememories, such as ROMs and flash memories, and hard disks. Examples ofthe removable medium include, but are not limited to, optical storagemedia such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical storage media, such asMOs; magnetism storage media, including but not limited to floppy disks(trademark), cassette tapes, and removable hard disks; media with abuilt-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, including but not limited tomemory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including but not limitedto ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information regarding storedimages, for example, property information, may be stored in any otherform, or it may be provided in other ways.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thedisclosure, the electronic components of the navigation device 200and/or the components of the server 302 can be embodied as computerhardware circuitry or as a computer readable program, or as acombination of both.

The system and method of embodiments of the present application includesoftware operative on the processor to perform at least one of themethods according to the teachings of the present application. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading andcomprehending this disclosure, the manner in which a software programcan be launched from a computer readable medium in a computer basedsystem to execute the functions found in the software program. One ofordinary skill in the art will further understand the variousprogramming languages which may be employed to create a software programdesigned to implement and perform at least one of the methods of thepresent application.

The programs can be structured in an object-orientation using anobject-oriented language including but not limited to JAVA, Smalltalk,C++, etc., and the programs can be structured in aprocedural-orientation using a procedural language including but notlimited to COBAL, C, etc. The software components can communicate in anynumber of ways that are well known to those of ordinary skill in theart, including but not limited to by application of program interfaces(API), interprocess communication techniques, including but not limitedto report procedure call (RPC), common object request brokerarchitecture (CORBA), Component Object Model (COM), DistributedComponent Object Model (DCOM), Distributed System Object Model (DSOM),and Remote Method Invocation (RMI). However, as will be appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present applicationdisclosure, the teachings of the present application are not limited toa particular programming language or environment.

The above systems, devices, and methods have been described by way ofexample and not by way of limitation with respect to improving accuracy,processor speed, and ease of user interaction, etc. with a navigationdevice 200.

Further, elements and/or features of different example embodiments maybe combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within thescope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Still further, any one of the above-described and other example featuresof the present invention may be embodied in the form of an apparatus,method, system, computer program and computer program product. Forexample, of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in the form of asystem or device, including, but not limited to, any of the structurefor performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: determining a designatedfuel type; and displaying selectable fuel pricing information on adisplay of a navigation device, based upon the designated fuel type andin consideration of a location of the navigation device.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the location is of the navigation device isdetermined by receipt of a GPS signal.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe displaying of selectable fuel pricing information includesdisplaying a plurality of selectable icons.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the plurality of selectable icons includes at least two iconsdisplayed in connection with a fuel price.
 5. The method of claim 3,wherein the plurality of selectable icons includes at least one of aselectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relativelocation and a selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information basedupon relative pricing.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pluralityof icons includes at least one of a selectable icon to provide fuelpricing information based upon relative location and a selectable iconto provide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing.
 7. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the plurality of icons includes at least oneof a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuel price along atravel route; a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice based upon proximity to a current location of the navigationdevice; and a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice based upon location within a designated distance from a currentlocation of the navigation device.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein theplurality of icons includes at least one of a selectable icon displayinga relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route; a selectable icondisplaying a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity to acurrent location of the navigation device; and a selectable icondisplaying a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within adesignated distance from a current location of the navigation device. 9.The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of icons includes at leastone of a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuel pricealong a travel route; a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapestfuel price based upon proximity to a current location of the navigationdevice; and a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice based upon location within a designated distance from a currentlocation of the navigation device.
 10. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: receiving an indication of a selection of at least one ofthe selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based uponrelative location and the selectable icon to provide fuel pricinginformation based upon relative pricing; and at least one of displaying,upon receiving an indication of the selection of the selectable icon toprovide fuel pricing information based upon relative location, a listingof fuel providing stations in an order determined based upon relativelocation to the navigation device and displaying, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the selectable icon to provide fuel pricinginformation based upon relative pricing, a listing of fuel providingstations in an order determined based upon fuel pricing information. 11.The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving an indication of aselection of at least one of the selectable icon to provide fuel pricinginformation based upon relative location and the selectable icon toprovide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing; and atleast one of displaying, upon receiving an indication of the selectionof the selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based uponrelative location, a listing of fuel providing stations in an orderdetermined based upon relative location to the navigation device anddisplaying, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the selectableicon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing, alisting of fuel providing stations in an order determined based uponfuel pricing information.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:receiving at least one of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route, anindication of selection of the icon to provide a relatively cheapestfuel price based upon proximity to a current location of the navigationdevice, and an indication of selection of the icon to provide arelatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within a designateddistance from a current location of the navigation device; anddisplaying at least one of detailed information, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon to provide a relatively cheapestfuel price along a travel route, regarding a fuel providing stationproviding the relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route,detailed information, upon receipt of an indication of selection of theicon to provide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity toa current location of the navigation device, regarding a fuel providingstation providing the relatively cheapest fuel price based uponproximity to a current location of the navigation device, and detailedinformation, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within adesignated distance from a current location of the navigation device,regarding a fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapestfuel price based upon location within a designated distance from acurrent location of the navigation device.
 13. The method of claim 8,further comprising: receiving at least one of an indication of selectionof the icon to provide relatively cheapest fuel price along a travelroute, an indication of selection of the icon to provide a relativelycheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a current location of thenavigation device, and an indication of selection of the icon to providea relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within a designateddistance from a current location of the navigation device; anddisplaying at least one of detailed information, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon to provide relatively cheapest fuelprice along a travel route, regarding a fuel providing station providingthe relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route, detailedinformation, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity to acurrent location of the navigation device, regarding a fuel providingstation providing the relatively cheapest fuel price based uponproximity to a current location of the navigation device, and detailedinformation, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within adesignated distance from a current location of the navigation device,regarding a fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapestfuel price based upon location within a designated distance from acurrent location of the navigation device.
 14. The method of claim 9,further comprising: receiving at least one of an indication of selectionof the icon to provide relatively cheapest fuel price along a travelroute, an indication of selection of the icon to provide a relativelycheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a current location of thenavigation device, and an indication of selection of the icon to providea relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within a designateddistance from a current location of the navigation device; anddisplaying at least one of detailed information, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon to provide relatively cheapest fuelprice along a travel route, regarding a fuel providing station providingthe relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route, detailedinformation, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity to acurrent location of the navigation device, regarding a fuel providingstation providing the relatively cheapest fuel price based uponproximity to a current location of the navigation device, and detailedinformation, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within adesignated distance from a current location of the navigation device,regarding a fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapestfuel price based upon location within a designated distance from acurrent location of the navigation device.
 15. The method of claim 1,further comprising: displaying an icon for updating pricing information;and receiving, upon receipt of an indication of selection of the iconfor updating pricing information, updated pricing information.
 16. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: displaying an icon for updatingpricing information; and receiving, upon receipt of an indication ofselection of the icon for updating pricing information, updated pricinginformation.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the updated pricinginformation is received in a wireless manner via at least one of anantenna of the navigation device and a connection via a mobile phonelink.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the updated pricinginformation is received in a wireless manner via at least one of anantenna of the navigation device and a connection via a mobile phonelink.
 19. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing pricinginformation and a location for a plurality of fuel providing stations.20. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the updatedpricing information and a location for a plurality of fuel providingstations.
 21. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing theupdated pricing information and a location for a plurality of fuelproviding stations.
 22. A computer readable medium including programsegments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device,causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim
 1. 23. Amethod, comprising: displaying an icon for updating fuel pricinginformation; updating, upon receipt of an indication of selection of theicon for updating pricing information, fuel pricing information; anddisplaying a plurality of selectable icons, useable to access theupdated fuel pricing information in consideration of a location of thenavigation device, on a display of the navigation device.
 24. The methodof claim 23, wherein the updated fuel pricing information is received ina wireless manner via at least one of an antenna of the navigationdevice and a connection via a mobile phone link.
 25. The method of claim24, further comprising storing the updated fuel pricing information anda location for a plurality of fuel providing stations.
 26. The method ofclaim 24, further comprising: determining a designated fuel type priorto receipt of the updated fuel pricing information, wherein the updatingincludes updating fuel pricing information for the designated fuel type.27. The method of claim 24, wherein the location is of the navigationdevice is determined by receipt of a GPS signal.
 28. The method of claim23, wherein the plurality of selectable icons includes at least twoicons displayed in connection with a fuel price.
 29. The method of claim23, wherein the plurality of selectable icons includes at least one of aselectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relativelocation and a selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information basedupon relative pricing.
 30. A computer readable medium including programsegments for, when executed on a processor of a navigation device,causing the navigation device to implement the method of claim
 23. 31. Anavigation device, comprising: a processor to determine a designatedfuel type; and an integrated input and display device to displayselectable fuel pricing information based upon the designated fuel typeand in consideration of a location of the navigation device.
 32. Thenavigation device of claim 31, wherein the device is a portablenavigation device.
 33. The navigation device of claim 31, wherein thedisplayed selectable fuel pricing information includes display of aplurality of selectable icons.
 34. The navigation device of claim 33,wherein the plurality of icons include at least two icons displayed inconnection with a fuel price.
 35. The navigation device of claim 33,wherein the plurality of icons includes at least one of a selectableicon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relative locationand a selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based uponrelative pricing.
 36. The navigation device of claim 34, wherein theplurality of icons includes at least one of a selectable icon to providefuel pricing information based upon relative location and a selectableicon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing.37. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein the plurality of iconsincludes at least one of a selectable icon displaying a relativelycheapest fuel price along a travel route; a selectable icon displaying arelatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a currentlocation of the navigation device; and a selectable icon displaying arelatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within a designateddistance from a current location of the navigation device.
 38. Thenavigation device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of icons includesat least one of a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice along a travel route; a selectable icon displaying a relativelycheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a current location of thenavigation device; and a selectable icon displaying a relativelycheapest fuel price based upon location within a designated distancefrom a current location of the navigation device.
 39. The navigationdevice of claim 36, wherein the plurality of icons includes at least oneof a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuel price along atravel route; a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice based upon proximity to a current location of the navigationdevice; and a selectable icon displaying a relatively cheapest fuelprice based upon location within a designated distance from a currentlocation of the navigation device.
 40. The navigation device of claim35, wherein upon receipt of an indication of selection of the selectableicon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relative location,the integrated input and display device is further used to display alisting of fuel providing stations in an order determined, by theprocessor, based upon relative location to the navigation device, andupon receipt of an indication of selection of the selectable icon toprovide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing, theintegrated input and display device is further used to display a listingof fuel providing stations in an order determined, by the processor,based upon fuel pricing information.
 41. The navigation device of claim36, wherein upon receipt of an indication of selection of the selectableicon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relative location,the integrated input and display device is further used to display alisting of fuel providing stations in an order determined, by theprocessor, based upon relative location to the navigation device, andupon receipt of an indication of selection of the selectable icon toprovide fuel pricing information based upon relative pricing, theintegrated input and display device is further used to display a listingof fuel providing stations in an order determined, by the processor,based upon fuel pricing information.
 42. The navigation device of claim37, wherein upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon toprovide relatively cheapest fuel price along a travel route, theintegrated input and display device is further used to display detailedinformation regarding a fuel providing station providing the relativelycheapest fuel price along a travel route; upon receipt of an indicationof selection of the icon to provide a relatively cheapest fuel pricebased upon proximity to a current location of the navigation device, theintegrated input and display device is further used to display detailedinformation regarding a fuel providing station providing the relativelycheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a current location of thenavigation device; and upon receipt of an indication of selection of theicon to provide relatively cheapest fuel price based upon locationwithin a designated distance from a current location of the navigationdevice, the integrated input and display device is further used todisplay detailed information regarding a fuel providing stationproviding the relatively cheapest fuel price based upon location withina designated distance from a current location of the navigation device.43. The navigation device of claim 38, wherein upon receipt of anindication of selection of the selectable icon to provide fuel pricinginformation based upon relative location, the integrated input anddisplay device is further used to display a listing of fuel providingstations in an order determined, by the processor, based upon relativelocation to the navigation device; upon receipt of an indication ofselection of the selectable icon to provide fuel pricing informationbased upon relative pricing, the integrated input and display device isfurther used to display a listing of fuel providing stations in an orderdetermined, by the processor, based upon fuel pricing information; uponreceipt of an indication of selection of the icon to provide relativelycheapest fuel price along a travel route, the integrated input anddisplay device is further used to display detailed information regardinga fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapest fuel pricealong a travel route; upon receipt of an indication of selection of theicon to provide a relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity toa current location of the navigation device, the integrated input anddisplay device is further used to display detailed information regardinga fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapest fuel pricebased upon proximity to a current location of the navigation device; andupon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon to providerelatively cheapest fuel price based upon location within a designateddistance from a current location of the navigation device, theintegrated input and display device is further used to display detailedinformation regarding a fuel providing station providing the relativelycheapest fuel price based upon location within a designated distancefrom a current location of the navigation device.
 44. The navigationdevice of claim 39, wherein upon receipt of an indication of selectionof the selectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based uponrelative location, the integrated input and display device is furtherused to display a listing of fuel providing stations in an orderdetermined, by the processor, based upon relative location to thenavigation device, and upon receipt of an indication of selection of theselectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relativepricing, the integrated input and display device is further used todisplay a listing of fuel providing stations in an order determined, bythe processor, based upon fuel pricing information; upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon to provide relatively cheapest fuelprice along a travel route, the integrated input and display device isfurther used to display detailed information regarding a fuel providingstation providing the relatively cheapest fuel price along a travelroute; upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon to providea relatively cheapest fuel price based upon proximity to a currentlocation of the navigation device, the integrated input and displaydevice is further used to display detailed information regarding a fuelproviding station providing the relatively cheapest fuel price basedupon proximity to a current location of the navigation device; and uponreceipt of an indication of selection of the icon to provide relativelycheapest fuel price based upon location within a designated distancefrom a current location of the navigation device, the integrated inputand display device is further used to display detailed informationregarding a fuel providing station providing the relatively cheapestfuel price based upon location within a designated distance from acurrent location of the navigation device.
 45. The navigation device ofclaim 31, wherein the integrated input and display device is furtherused to display an icon for updating pricing information, and wherein,upon receipt of an indication of selection of the icon for updatingpricing information, the navigation device is adapted to receive updatedpricing information.
 46. The navigation device of claim 33, wherein theintegrated input and display device is further used to display an iconfor updating pricing information, and wherein, upon receipt of anindication of selection of the icon for updating pricing information,the navigation device is adapted to receive updated pricing information.47. The navigation device of claim 45, wherein the navigation deviceincludes at least one of an antenna and a connection via a mobile phonelink to receive the updated pricing information in a wireless manner.48. The navigation device of claim 46, wherein the navigation deviceincludes at least one of an antenna and a connection via a mobile phonelink to receive the updated pricing information in a wireless manner.49. The navigation device of claim 31, further comprising a memory tostore pricing information and a location for a plurality of fuelproviding stations.
 50. The navigation device of claim 45, furthercomprising a memory to store the updated pricing information and alocation for a plurality of fuel providing stations.
 51. The navigationdevice of claim 46, further comprising a memory to store the updatedpricing information and a location for a plurality of fuel providingstations.
 52. A navigation device, comprising: an integrated input anddisplay device to display an icon for updating fuel pricing information;and a processor to update, upon receipt of an indication of selection ofthe icon for updating pricing information, fuel pricing information, theintegrated input and display device being useable to display a pluralityof selectable icons, useable to access the updated fuel pricinginformation in consideration of a location of the navigation device. 53.The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the navigation deviceincludes at least one of an antenna and a connection via a mobile phonelink to receive the updated pricing information in a wireless manner.54. The navigation device of claim 53, further comprising a memory tostore the updated fuel pricing information and a location for aplurality of fuel providing stations.
 55. The navigation device of claim53, wherein the processor is used to determine a designated fuel typeprior to receipt of the updated fuel pricing information, wherein theupdating includes updating fuel pricing information for the designatedfuel type.
 56. The navigation device of claim 53, wherein the locationis of the navigation device is determined by receipt of a GPS signal.57. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein the plurality ofselectable icons includes at least two icons displayed in connectionwith a fuel price.
 58. The navigation device of claim 52, wherein theplurality of selectable icons includes at least one of a selectable iconto provide fuel pricing information based upon relative location and aselectable icon to provide fuel pricing information based upon relativepricing.